Motor lawn-mower.



Patented Mar. 5, I90l. T. G. W. H. CDLDWELL.

MOTOR LAWN MOWER.

(Application fll'ed Nov. 6, 1900..

4' Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 669,437. Patented Mar; 5,- I90l'. T. & W. H. COLDWELL.

MOTOR LAWN MOWER.

Application filed Nov. 6, 1900.:

'4Sheets-Sheet 3..

(No Model.)

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Patented Mar. 5, I901.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

T. 8', W. H. COLDWELL.

MOTOR LAWN MOWER.

Applicatiou filed Nov. 6, 1900.

(No Model.)

Aflomeys.

' W1 T/VESSESE UNITED STAT S PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS COLDVVELL AND WILLIAM H. COLDWELL, OF NEWBURG, NEW YORK;

MOTOR LAWN-MOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent to. 669,437, dated Matt 5root. Application filed November 6, 1900. Serial No. 35,642. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, THOMAS CoLDwELL and WILLIAM H. COLDWELL, citizensof the United States, residing at Newburg, in the county of Orange andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve; mentsin Motor Lawn-Mowers; and we do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it ap-' pertains to make and use thesame.

Our invention is an improved motor lawn mower, sweeper, and roller;andit consists in the novel features hereinafter described withreference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one form inwhich we have contemplated embodying the invention, and the invention isfully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of themachine embodying our invention arranged as a lawn-mower. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portionof the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical transversesectional view of the machine on line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 aredetail views illustrating the connection between the steering-roller andthe main frame. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sectional views of theconnections between the push-bars and the main frame and mower-frame,respectively. Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating the operation of thelifting mechanism for the lawn-mower frame. Fig. 10 is a detail view,partly in section, of the indicating apparatus of the steeringmechanism.

The object of our invention is to provide a machine operated by a primemotor capable of self-propulsion and adapted to roll a lawn, ashereinafter described.

In the drawings, A A represent the main frame of the machine, whichconsists of a rectangular horizontal framework A, having a rear portionA, preferably somewhat narrower than the front portion and terminatingin a curved back bar a. The forward portion of the frame is carried upona pair of driving-rollers B B, loosely mounted on ash-aft C, the ends ofwhich are secured in hangers or brackets A A depending from the mainframe. The rear portion of the frame is car ried by a pair of rollers DD, by which the machine is also steered. The rollers D D are mounted ona shaft E, the ends of which are secured to a yoke E, provided at itscenter with a vertically-disposed pivot stud e. To the curved back bar ais bolted a U-shaped bracket A and said bracket and the said back barare provided on their lower edges wit-h bearingrecesses a a. (See Fig.6.) Within the bracket A is placed a block A, having tru nnions a whichengage the recesses Ct a just described, and said block is also providedwith a vertical aperture o which receives the vertical pivot-stud e ofthe yoke E. The block A is of such size as to permit its oscillating onits trunnions within the bracket A and it will therefore be seen thatthe rollers E are free to move withrespect to the frame, so'as toconform to the inequalities of the ground without straining theirconnection with the frame or interfering with the steering of themachine.

It is obvious that very many different arrangements could be used toturn the rollers E so as to steer the machine.

In the present instance the steering mechanism is constructed andarranged as follows: F is a drum-shaft disposed transversely of themachine and supported in bearings secured thereto and provided withwindingdrums at opposite sides of the machine on which are oppositelywound the cables (or other flexible connections) ff, which extendrearward and are secured to the opposite sides of the yoke E, preferablyby means of turnbuckles, as shown. Shaft F is provided with asprocket-wheel f connected by a chain f with a sprocket-wheel f on ashaft supported from the main frame adjacent to the forward end thereof,said sprocketwheelf having connected therewith a worm-wheel f". Grepresents the steering-pedestal, which extends vertically from the mainframe near the forward end, and through which extends a vertical shaftg, carrying at its lower end a worm g, engaging the worm-wheelf and atits upper end a bevel-gear g engaged by a bevel-gear g on a shorthorizontal shaft 9 carrying on its outer end the hand steeringwheel G".The shaft g is also provided with a small pinion g meshing with a largergearwheel g on a shaft g which extends up through the top of thepedestal Grand is provided with a pointer g, which indicates at alltimes the position of the steering-roller. It is to be noted that as oneof the drumsff winds up its cable while the other unwinds the two cableswill always remain taut, and they will relieve the vertical pivot-stud efrom injurious strain, which might otherwise tend to break it.

The prime motor for propelling the machine and operating the cutter orsweeper thereof maybe of any desired type-such asa steamengine, agasolene or explosive engine, or an electric motor. In the presentinstance the machine is shown as arranged for a steamengine; but it isto be understood that our invention covers the use of any prime motor.

H represents the boiler, which is supported on brackets h h, secured tothe main frame.

Iv represents the water-supply tank, which is placed beneath theoperators seat K, and L representsa tank for holdingliquid hydrocarbon,which supplies the heat for the boiler in any desired or usual way andis charged with compressed air by means of an air pump L, secured to theforward part of the main frame.

M represents the motor proper,'having a driving-shaft m. This motor(consisting in this instance of a steam-engine which is representedconventionally in the drawings) is located a little to one side of thecenter of the machine, as shown in Fig. 2, and its shaftm is providedwith a driving sprocket-wheel m, loosely mounted thereon in line withthe ing-gear pinions n, which mesh with beveled gears 19 6, formed on orsecured to the inner ends of the rollers B B. A driving-chain O connectsthe driving-sprockets m and N, thus imparting motion to the two rollers,but permitting one to turn faster than another when necessary.

P represents a vertically-movable frame adapted to carry the cuttingapparatus or sweeper, said frame being provided with a pair ofvertically-adjustable caster-wheels 19 p at its forward end and with asmall supporting-rollerp at its rear end. The casterwheels have verticalpivot-studs p engaging vertical sockets in the frame, said socketshaving central cut-away portions, in each of which is located a collar19 secured adjustably on one of the caster-wheel studs 10 by means of asetscrew, for example, so that the caster-wheels can be adjustedvertically in the frame P to regulate the height of out.

1) represents the removable stationary knife of the mower, and p therotary knife, the latter being mounted adj ustably with respect to thestationary knife and being also removable, so that it may be replaced bya rotary brush when it is desired.

The shaft of the roller (or brush) is provided with a sprocket-wheel p,which is engaged by a chain 13 passing over a drivingsprocketm looselymounted on the motorshaft m and adapted to connect therewith by a clutchm operated by a suitable hand-lever m The frame P is connected to themainframe by devices which permit said frame P to rise and fall andassume positions angular to the main frame, so as to allow it to followthe contour of the ground over which it passes and also to prevent themovements of the main frame when passing over uneven ground from forcingthe cutters into the ground. To this end the frame P is connected to themain frame at each side thereof by a push-bar Q. Each of these bars isprovided at its rear end with an aperture loosely engaged by ashouldered bolt g, which passes through a slot of in one of the bracketsA and a clampingplate q is preferablyinterposed between the shoulder ofthe bolt and the bracket and between the nut and the opposite side ofthe bracket, as shown in Fig. 7, said plates having apertures throughwhich the bolt passes, so that the bolt may be secured at any desiredpoint in said slot, and the push-bar Q will still be allowedconsiderable play on the bolt. By adjusting the bolts q in the slots athe tension of sprocket-chain 19 can be regulated.

The forward end of each push-bar Q is connected to the frame P by asimilar shouldered bolt g passing loosely through the push-bar andthrough an aperture in the side frame, the bolt being rigidly secured tothe frame, but permitting the push-bar an amount of play thereon. (SeeFig. 8.) The frame P is also provided with lugs 19 19 above and beloweach of the push-bars Q to prevent the frame P from doubling upon saidpush-bars.

R represents a rock-shaft which extends across and beneath the mainframe and above the frame P, and is provided with lifting-arms r r,connected by links 1* r to the frame P. The shaft R is also providedwith a hand-lever R, by means of which the frame P can be lifted bodilyup against the under side of the main frame A when it is not desired touse it. The arms 0" r are so placed on the shaft R that when the frame Pis in its highest position the shaft R will be forward of a lineconnecting the points of pivoting of the links 1" 'r' with said arms andwith the frame P, as shown in Fig. 9, (the links 1" 7' being preferablyslightly bent or curved,as shown, to-facilitate this result,) so thatthe weight of the frame P will be directly supported by the shaft R, andthe arms r 0" will be prevented from moving farther rearwardly by theengagement of the links with the shaft R, as

will be readily understood. In Fig. 9 we have also shown the revolvingcutter removed and the rotary brush S, before referred to, substitutedtherefor.

In some cases it may be desirable to use a grass box or collector withthe mower, and in Fig. 1 we have illustrated in dotted lines a grass-boxT, which may be of any desired or usual construction.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by lowering theframe P to the ground (the revolving cutter being in place therein) andthrowing in the clutches m and m the machine will move over the groundand operate the cutter to cut the grass at the height to which it hasbeen set by the adj ustment of the caster-wheels. By substituting arotary brush for the rotary cutter, which may be accomplished byloosening the cutter from its shaft, drawing out the shaft, insertingthe brush, replacing the shaft, and securing the brush thereto, themachine can be used as a lawn-sweeper. In either case the work is donemore effectively than with a horse-d rawn machine, as there is nothingin front of the cutter or brush to press down the grass.

\rVhen it is desired to roll the ground, the frame P- is lifted, asbefore described, and thereby its weight is added to the weight of themachine carried by and upon the rollers B B D D, so that a veryeffective roller is produced, the clutch m being thrown out when theknives are not in use. The driving-shaft of the engine is alsopreferably provided with a band or driving wheel or pulley M, which isconveniently attached to the sprocket m so that when desired the machinemay be propelled to any desired point, the motor disconnected from therunning-gear by throwing out the clutch m and from the cutting mechanismbydetachingthe sprocket-chainfrom sprocket m. The power of the enginemay then be used for any desired purpose, as pumping water, sawing wood,&c., exactly as if it were a stationary engine.

The prime motor will be provided with the usual devices for starting,stopping, and reversing, which will preferably be controlled by means ofa lever or levers adjacent to the drivers seat; but as these devicesform no part of our invention they are not shown or described herein.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with aframe,combined traction and lawn-rollingrollers connected therewith, ofa second frame,arranged in front of saidtraction and lawn-rolling rollers and provided with supporting devicesengaging the ground and supporting the entire weight of the frame,cutting mechanism carried by said second frame, a motor operativelyconnected with said traction-rollers and connections between said framespermitting them to rock transversely with respect to each other toaccommodate them to inequalities of the ground, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a frame and combined traction and lawn-rollingrollers connected therewith, of a second frame, arranged in front ofsaid traction and lawn-rolling rollers and provided with rollerssupporting the entire weight of the frame, cutting mechanism carried bysaid second frame, a motor operatively connected with saidtractionrollers and connections between saidframes permitting them torock longitudinally and transversely with respect to each other,substantially as described.

3. The combination with the main frame, of a motor mounted thereon,combined traction and lawn-rolling rollers connected with said mainframe, connections between said motor and said traction-rollers, asecond frame arranged in line longitudinally with the main frame, andmovable bodily up and down with respect to the main frame, connectionsbetween said movable frame and the main frame permitting said frames torock transversely with respect to each other, cutting mechanism andcarrying-rollers mounted in the movable frame and mechanism for drivingsaid cutting mechanism, substantially as described.

4. The combination with two frames arranged in line with each otherlongitudinally, of connections between said frames permitting them torock transversely with respect to each other to accommodate them toinequalities of the surface traversed, combined traction andlawn-rolling rollers connected with one of said frames, cuttingmechanism carried by the other frame, a motor operatively connected withsaid rollers and mechanism for transferring the weight of the framecarrying the cutting mechanism to the other frame, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with the main frame, of a motor mounted thereon,combined traction and lawn-rolling rollers connected with said mainframe, connections between said motor and said traction-rollers, asecond frame arranged in line longitudinally with the main frame, andmovable bodilyup and down with respect to the main frame, connectionsbetween said movable frame and the main frame permitting said frames torock transversely with respect to each other, cutting mechanism andcarrying-rollers mounted in the movable frame, mechanism for drivingsaid cutting mechanism, and mechanism for transferring the weight of themovable frame carrying the cutting mechanism to the other frame,substantially as described.

6. The combination with the main frame provided with supporting-rollers,of connections between certain of said rollers and the frame, wherebythe angle of the axis of said rollers is automatically adjustable withrespect to the plane of the frame to enable them to conform to theinequalities in the ground, a motor on said frame, operative connectionsbetween the motor and certain of said rolle s a vertically-movable fraIIO tween said movable frame and the main frame permitting the movableframe to rock transversely to the main frame, cutting mechanism carriedby said movable frame, and operative connections between said cuttingmechanism and the motor, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the main frame provided with supporting-rollers,of connections between certain of said rollers and the frame, wherebythe angle of the axis of said rollers is automatically adjustable withrespect to the plane of the frame to enable them to conform to theinequalities in the ground, a motor on said frame, operative connectionsbetween the motor and certain of said rollers, a vertically-movableframe, connections between said movable frame and the main framepermitting the movable frame to rock transversely to the main frame,cutting mechanism carried by said movable frame, operative connectionsbetween said cutting mechanism and the motor, and means for elevatingthe verticallyunovable frame to enable the machine to be used as aroller, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the main frame, rotary supports therefor and aprime motor connected with certain of said rotary supports, forpropelling them, of a verticallymovable frame, cutting mechanism mountedtherein, links extending from said main frame to the movable framehaving connections with each frame permitting-a limited sliding movementperpendicular to the plane of the frame and operative connectionsbetween said motor and the cutting mechanism carried by said movableframe and means for elevating said movable frame out of operativerelation to the ground, substantially as described.

9. The combination with two frames arranged in line with each otherlongitudinally, of connections between said frames permitting them torock transversely with respect to each other to accommodate them toinequalities of the ground, combined traction and lawn-rolling rollersconnected with one of said frames, a removable rotary cutter carried bythe other frame, and a motor operatively connected with said rollers,and detachably connected with said removable cutter, whereby said cuttermay be removed and replaced by a rotary brush, to convert the machineinto a lawn-sweeper, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the main frame, of a supporting driving-rollertherefor, asupporting and steering roller therefor, provided with avertical pivot, a block engaging said pivot and pivoted in said mainframe so as to be capable of oscillating transversely thereof, steeringmechanism connected with said steering-roller, and a prime motor mountedon said frame and operatively connected with said driving-roller,whereby the axes of said rollers may assume positions angularly to 0 hother to allow the rollers to conform to round, a supplemental frame inline longitudinally with the main frame, connections between the mainframe and said supplemental frame permitting said frames to rocktransversely with respect to each other, and cuttingmechanism carried bysaid supplemental frame,substantially as described.

11. The combination with the main frame provided withtransverse parallelportions adjacent to one end, a block pivotally mounted in said parallelportions, its pivots extending longitudinally of the main frame, asteeringroller provided with a vertical pivot engaging said block, adriving-roller mounted in said main frame, a motor mounted in said mainframe, and operatively connected with the driving-roller,steering-mechanism connected with said steering roller, -a supplementalframe in line longitudinally with the main frame, connections betweenthe main frame and said supplemental frame permitting said frames torock transversely with respect to each other, and cutting mechanismcarried by said supplemental frame,substantially as described.

12. The combination with the main frame, of driving-rollersmountedttherein, steeringrollers,'connections between thesteering-rollers and said main frame permitting said steering-rollers to.rock transversely with respect to the main frame, steering mechanismconnected. with said. steeringrollers therefor,

links connected to said main frame and to the said movable frame byconnections allowing said framesto rock transversely with respect toeach other, cutting mechanism carried by said movable frame includingarotary cutter, a motor on the main frame, connections between saidmotor and the driving-rollers, a clutch controlling said connections,operative connections between said motor and the said rotary cutter, aclutch controlling said connections, a lifting-shaft'adjacent to thesaid movable frame, a liftingdever secured thereto and connectionsbetween said lifting-shaft and the said movable frame, substantially asdescribed.

13. The combination with aframe and combined traction and lawn-rollingrollers connected therewith, of a second frame, arranged in linelongitudinally with the first-mentioned frame and provided withsupporting-rollers engaging the ground and supporting the entire weightof the said second frame when in operative position, cutting mechanismcarried by said second frame, connections between said frames permittingthem to rock transversely with respect to each other, a motoroperatively connected with said tractionrollersand adjusting devicesoperatively connected with said supporting-rollers for the said secondframe, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a frame and combined traction and lawn-rollingrollers connected therewith,of a second frame arranged in linelongitudinally with the first-mentioned frame and provided withsupporting-rollers IIC engaging the ground and supporting the entireweight of the said second frame when in operative position, cuttingmechanism carried by said second frame, connections between said framespermitting them to rock transversely with-respect to each other, a motoroperatively connected with said tractionrollers, adjusting devicesconnected with the supporting-rollers of-said second frame, andmechanism for lifting said second frame bodily off of the ground,substantially as described.

15. The combination with the main frame, combined traction andlawn-rolling rollers connected therewith and asteering-roller pivotallyconnected with said frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, flexibleconnections oppositely wound on said shaft and connected to saidsteering-roller below its point of pivoting, for steering said rollerand also taking a portion of the draft thereof off of its pivotalconnection, of a second frame ar-' ranged in line longitudinally withsaid main frame and provided with rollers engaging the ground andsupporting the entire weight of the said second frame, cutting mechanismcarried by said second frame, and connections between said framespermitting them to rock transversely with respect to each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence ofwitnesses.

THOMAS GOLDWELL. WILLIAM H. COLDWELL. Witnesses as to signature ofThomas Gold- Well:

L. P. WHITAKER, J K. ll/IOORE. Witnesses as to signature of William H.Goldwell:

WILLIAM J. WYG'ANT, J. S. ANGUS.

